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An inspiring Michaelmas Concert

The Michaelmas Concert is one of the highlights of the Music Department’s calendar and this year's event involved over 200 pupils including all of the Lower School girls.

From Once Removed to Senior Choral and Big Band to the Symphony Orchestra, the concert showcased and celebrated music-making at its very best at Downe House.

This year’s concert started with a fine performance by our Symphony Orchestra consisting of 75+ girls performing Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture. The audience then enjoyed a rich programme of music celebrating a wealth of musical styles from classical and jazz to film music and musicals, from opera to pop, involving over 300 appearances from girls in a variety of ensembles. Barnardo’s ‘Senior Choir of the Year’ 2018, Senior Choral gave a warm and powerful performance of ‘The Prayer’. The audience enjoyed the ‘Spotlight on Excellence’ discussion in which Director of Music, Dr Charlotte Exon talked with a group of musicians, who have achieved or are preparing for their performance diplomas, about their musical lives, hopes and aspirations. The concert concluded with all the choirs performing ‘My Guardian Angel’, composed by the current Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir CBE. The performance was made even better by a little audience participation at the end which everyone enjoyed. Dr Exon said, “What an exceptional concert! It is a privilege to work with such wonderfully talented musicians with such commitment to rehearsals and musical detail. Such vibrant and energetic performances throughout and I couldn’t be more proud of all that the girls achieved. Bravissimo musicians!”